Sheet metal strip roller apparatus

ABSTRACT

A lightweight inexpensive metal rolling apparatus for sheet metal including a lightweight elongate frame, a series of forming rolls secured to shaft&#39;s journaled in metal roller wheels secured to the frame and depending therefrom, and a second series of metal-forming rolls operatively positioned in association with the first by metal bars adjustably engaging said metal wheels and dependant therefrom and having shafts fixedly connected thereto and extending therebetween. Inlet guide means are provided for the metal strip and an outlet adjustable roller guide is provided to aid in forming an accurate, straight end product.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Heretofore, there have been many different kinds of strip metalroll-forming apparatus provided, but most of such apparatus has beenquite massive and costly. When forming sheet metal members, it obviouslyis desirable to have lighter weight, lower cost roll-forming apparatusthan would be required in shaping heavier gauges of metal.

One prior metal strip roll-forming apparatus is shown in my previousU.S. Letters Pat. No. 3,785,191. Many other shapes of metal also must beprovided than that shown in my prior Patent, and it naturally isdesirable to use as inexpensive but sturdy members as possible informing strip metal to the desired contours.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight,inexpensive, but efficiently functional roll apparatus for contouringmetal strips to desired shapes.

Another object of the invention is to use commercially available memberssuch as metal wheel units in positioning roll-carrying shafts in theapparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide inexpensive but sturdyadjustable means for positioning second forming rolls of a pair offorming rolls in operative association with first rolls that arenon-adjustably positioned in the apparatus.

Other objects of the invention are to provide simplified, lightweightinlet guide means for the metal strip to feed it into the apparatusproperly; to provide guide and straightening members adjacent the outputof the roll stand to contour the end product as accurately as possibleto the desired cross sectional shape and to aid in axially straighteningthe end product; to provide roll-forming apparatus for metal stripswherein the apparatus will form, for example, either end products ofsubstantially U-shape or L-shape in section; and to provide roll formingmeans in apparatus of the type described wherein one edge roll in thefemale forming rolls of the roll stand are separate units removablypositioned in the roll-forming apparatus to open one side edge of eachroll-forming pair and permit variation in the cross sectional shape ofthe end product.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill be made more apparent as the Specification proceeds.

Reference now is particularly directed to the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of apparatus embodyingthe principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragementary vertical section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan of an inlet guide means provided forapparatus of the invention and shown to reduced scale;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6 through 10 are fragmentary sections through the pairs ofroll-forming means of the invention for progressively shaping the metalstrip to desired contour;

FIG. 11 is a view of the roll of FIG. 10 with one edge forming rollthereon removed; and

FIG. 12 is a section on line 12--12 of FIG. 5.

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawings andreferred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used tofacilitate comparison therebetween.

The pairs of rolls shown in FIGS. 6 through 10 are separated from eachother and are not in closely spaced relation as would be required whenthe pairs of rolls are operatively positioned. These rolls may be of anydesired contour but preferably they form an end product of angular shapein section.

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION

The invention, as one embodiment thereof relates to strip metal rollingapparatus including a frame having opposed side members, several pairsof rotatable wheel members fixedly secured to opposed longitudinallyshaped portions of the side rails and depending therefrom, a shaftcarrying an upper forming roll thereon journalled in and extendingbetween each of the pairs of wheel members, a plurality of roll-mountingbars each secured to and extending between pairs of adjacent wheelmembers, which metal bars are secured to each of the pairs of wheelmembers for vertical adjusting movement therebetween, a positioningshaft carrying a lower forming roll fixedly secured to and extendingbetween opposed sections of a pair of laterally opposed bars to providetwo roll-carrying shafts on each of these bars in spaced longitudinalrelation, and the upper and lower forming rolls on said shafts beingoperatively associated in pairs in the apparatus for progressivelyforming a metal strip fed into and through the rolling apparatus. Theinvention includes rolls formed in two parts whereby an edge formingroll section can be removed to vary the shape of the roll formedproduct. Special straightening means are provided adjacent the dischargeend of the apparatus to engage the rolled metal strip, and inlet guidemeans are present in the apparatus.

Regarding the details of the apparatus shown in the drawings, the stripmetal rolling apparatus is indicated as a whole by the numeral 10 and itincludes a frame 12. The frame 12 has a pair of opposed side members 14and 16 extending the substantial length thereof and a plurality of pairsof metal forming rolls are operatively positioned on this apparatus withthe pairs of rolls being in longitudinally spaced relationship to eachother so that a strip of metal S fed into the apparatus will beprogressively shaped to substantially U-Shape or other angular form insection by the apparatus of the invention.

The apparatus of the invention is driven in any conventional manner asby an electric motor 18 that connects by suitable speed reducer or thelike 20 to a drive chain 22 which extends along one side of theapparatus for engaging and driving one roll positioning shaft of each ofthe plurality of pairs of forming rolls provided in the apparatus.

Specifically, the metal strip S is fed into the apparatus between a pairof vertically spaced or sandwiched plates 24 and 26 that are securedtogether as by bolts 28 and wherein the bolt shanks position a pluralityof washers 30 in the portions of the bolt shank positioned between theplates to space the same a desired distance.

A plurality of edge guides or rolls 32 are provided on each lateralmargin of an open center portion of the plates 24 and 26 so that theserolls 32, that are carried on vertically extending bolts 34 or the like,are rotatably positioned in and suitably spaced in the inlet means forengaging opposed lateral margins of the metal strip fed into theapparatus.

The individual forming rolls in the apparatus are preferably positionedby means of substantially conventional, commercially availablecomponents. That is, the side members 14 and 16 in the frame preferablyare T-shaped angles and a plurality of metal wheel members 40 aresecured to the dependant flanges of these side members 14 and extendtherebelow. Each metal wheel 40 includes an annular outer section (orwheel) 42 that suitably journals a rotatably positioned center tubularsection or ring 44 therein. The metal section or ring 42 is secured asby welding to one of the side members to depend therefrom and suitablesupport shaft 46 is positioned in and extends between the inner rings 42of a pair of the metal wheels 40. Such wheels 40 include a bearing caseusually used to support the sections 42 but which now journal the centerrings 44 on the fixed outer rings. These metal wheels 40 are secured tolaterally opposed portions of the side members in longitudinally spacedrelation whereby each pair of metal wheels has a roll support shaftjournalled therein and extending transversely of the frame between theopposed side members. One end of each of these shafts 46 protrudeslaterally beyond the frame a short distance and carries a sprocket 48thereon for engaging the drive chain 22 for driving one roll of each ofthe pairs of forming rolls provided in the apparatus.

FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings best show that the second roll of each ofthe pairs of forming rolls in the apparatus is positioned by means suchas individual support bars 50 secured to lower portions of the metalwheels 40 as herein described. These support bars 50 are positioned inthe apparatus so that one such bar is secured to and extends betweenpairs of adjacent metal wheels on the same side of the apparatus andwith only one of such support bars being secured to each of the metalwheels. Specifically, cap screws 52 are provided at each end of eachsupport bar and extend therethrough for threaded engagement with tappedsockets provided in lower parts of the rings 42 of the wheel members 40.Coil springs 54 are carried by the shanks of each of the cap screws 52to urge the support bar into resilient engagement with a peripheralportion of the associated wheel members but with the vertical positionof the support bar being controllable, for example, by a threadedengagement of the cap screw shank with a tapped aperture in the supportbar to move it toward and from the adjacent wheel member. Shims orwashers 55 are placed between the bars 50 and the wheels 40 to aid invarying the position of the roll support shaft. The coil springs 54 urgethe support bars vertically upwardly at all times whereby smalladjustment in the positions of the support bars can be provided. Thesesupport bars 50 each position an upstream roll positioning metal ring 56and a downstream metal ring 58 thereon with the metal wheels or rings 56and 58 being, for example, welded to laterally inner edges of thesupport bars and with the metal sleeves or rings extending downwardlytherefrom to position a roll support shaft 60 in and extending betweeneach of the pairs of opposed metal rings provided in the apparatus.

FIGS. 6 through 10 show a plurality of the associated support shafts 46and 60 that position the pairs of forming rolls in operative associationwith each other. These drawings further show male forming rolls 62, 64,66, 68 and 70 positioned on the individual driven support shafts 46 inthe apparatus whereas the associated female forming rolls 72, 74, 76, 78and 80 are carried on the individual support shafts 60 that arepositioned in longitudinally spaced parallel relationship in theapparatus and with these various female forming rolls being suitablyjournalled on the support shafts provided therefor, or with the shaftsbeing journalled in a pair of opposed rings 56 or 58.

As another feature of the invention, each of the female forming rolls asshown comprises or has been formed in two parts, each of annular form.Thus, an edge forming roll 73, 75, 77, 79 and 81 is provided as aportion of each of the female forming rolls and individual set screws 82engage with each of these edge forming rolls and they bear against thesupport shafts 60 to lock the edge forming rolls in position, but yet topermit removal of such edge forming rolls when desired. That is,normally the forming rolls as shown are adapted to provide an end memberhaving a vertical flange, a horizontal flange and a second verticalflange therein, but yet when it is not desired to form the substantiallyU-shaped member, the edge forming rolls can be removed and then asubstantially L-shaped end product is formed.

So as to aid in guiding and straightening the end product of the rollstand, FIG. 5 shows a straightening means or assembly used in theapparatus. Thus, an end roll 90 is positioned in a vertical plane andcarried on a shaft 92 journalled in two of the metal wheel units 94 and96 so that the roll 90 can engage the shaped metal part S preparatory todischarge of the same. A straightening roll 98 which is horizontallypositioned and has a vertical axis is carried on a vertically positionedshaft 100 and is suitably journalled thereon. Such shaft or rod 100 inturn is carried on a cantilevered positioned cross bar 102, one end ofwhich is secured to the side member 14 as shown and with the cross barextending over and termining adjacent the second side member 16. Inorder to adjust the position of the horizontal forming or guide roll 98,a set screw 104 or the like engages the side member 16 and bears on thefree end of the cross bar. Thus, adjustment of the set screw 104 willchange the bend or positioning of the cross bar 102 and likewise adjustthe position of the guide and straightening roll 98 which is used tourge the vertically extending flange of the shaped metal part S againstthe roll 90 and straighten or finalize the shape thereof to provide thedesirable end product.

This apparatus of the invention is relatively low in cost and light inweight. The apparatus will function effectively for rapidly shapinglight gauge metal to desired contours and the rolls provided will permitvariation in the contour of the shaped metal to at least the twodifferent contours as described herein. Thus, it is believed that theobjects of the invention have been achieved.

While one complete embodiment of the invention has been disclosedherein, it will be appreciated that modification of this particularembodiment of the invention may be resorted to without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a strip metal rolling apparatus, a frame meansincluding opposed side members, several pairs of metal wheel membersfixedly secured to opposed portions of said side members and dependingtherefrom, a shaft carrying an upper forming roll thereon journalled inand extending between each of said pairs of metal wheel members, aplurality of roll mounting bars, each secured to and extending betweenpairs of adjacent metal wheel members positioned on the same one of saidside members, means securing each of said bars to said pairs of saidwheel members for vertical adjusting movement, a positioning shaftcarrying a lower forming roll thereon fixedly secured to and extendingbetween opposed forward sections of a pair of laterally opposed bars anda second lower roll carrying shaft similarly secured to and extendingbetween rearward portions of said bars, said upper and lower formingrolls being operatively associated in operative paris in the apparatus.2. In strip metal rolling apparatus as in claim 1, a metal inlet guidemeans on said frame and comprising a pair of sandwiched plates, havingan axially open center area, spaced apart to receive the metal striptherein, and opposed side roller means positioned between said plates toengage side edges of said metal strip and center it in the apparatus. 3.In strip metal rolling apparatus as in claim 1 for forming an angular insection end member, a vertical cylindrical end guide roll journalled ona support and positioned to engage the angular end member, ahorizontally positioned guide roll, a cantilevered cross bar carried byone of said frame side members and extending to the other of said sidemembers, a vertically extending shaft having said last named guide rolljournalled thereon depending from said cross bar and operativelyengaging said end member adjacent said first named guide roll to aid inthe final shaping of said end member as it moves along the apparatus. 4.In strip metal rolling apparatus as in claim 1, where male and femalerolls are present for engaging and progressively shaping a metal strippassing therethrough, said rolls being adapted to form a metal strip toU-shape in section adn characterized by each of said female rolls beingmade of two parts, one being an edge roll and the second being acombined base and edge roll to enable removal of said edge rolls toproduce a section of generally L-shape.
 5. In strip metal rollingapparatus for forming an end member having a vertical and a horizontalflange therein, a frame having opposed side members, an end guide rolljournalled on a support and positioned to engage the flanges of the endmember, said guide roll defining a vertical plane, a horizontallypositioned guide roll having a vertical axis, a cantilevered cross barsecured at one end to one of said side members and extending at itsother end to the other of said side members, and a vertically extendingshaft having said last named guide roll journalled thereon dependingfrom said cross bar and operatively engaging the vertical flange of saidend member adjacent said first named guide roll to aid in straighteningsaid end member as it moves along the apparatus.
 6. In apparatus as inclaim 5 and including an adjustment member engaging said other sidemember and extending therefrom to engage the other end of said crossbar, and vary its position to control the position of said horizontallypositioned guide roll.